Funding options will again be a major source of consideration as Port Stephens looks to transform its two major sporting complexes - Tomaree in Nelson Bay and King Park in Raymond Terrace - into regional facilities capable of hosting state and national competition.
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The Tomaree master plan, where redevelopment is estimated at a whopping $65 million, was adopted by Port councillors last November.
The King Park master plan, which includes improvements to the netball courts, cricket and football fields, is expected to go before the council in September.
But unlike Tomaree, any upgrade to King Park is not SRV reliant.
"We haven't commenced the King Park cost planning yet ... this will be undertaken at a later stage, but this project is not SRV dependent," said Brock Lamont, the council's community and recreation coordinator.
Earlier this year the council invited key stakeholders, sporting groups and individuals to make submissions on the draft concept designs for a revitalised King Park, which caters for soccer, cricket, tennis, athletics and netball.
There's even a decades-old trotting training track that's still is use. Submissions closed on April 4.
Dave Davies, who moved to the Terrace in 1956, said that the complex needed a facelift, including cosmetic improvements to its sporting fields and "more trees around the perimeter of the park for shade during the summer and for protection from the westerlies in the winter".
West ward councillor Paul Le Mottee said that planting trees would be problematic.
"King Park was built on an old tip and in the 1990s the fields had to be dug up and clay-capped following reports of leaching," he said.
Other submissions included the need for an upgrade to the cricket training nets, more seating for the netball courts, more garbage bins [for both sporting and boating fraternities], better drainage and more car parking.
Two of the more creative concepts included updating the trotting track into a showground and rodeo/campdraft facility, and to establish an indoor sporting centre featuring the likes of netball, soccer, cricket, volleyball and basketball under the one roof.
Cr Giacomo Arnott said he hoped the master plan would provide a road-map for the sporting community, which "certainly deserves better infrastructure".
"The upgrades won't happen overnight, but the master plan will allow the council to apply for grants, to have a community-driven vision for this precinct, and to deliver it once it's finalised."
Mr Lamont said that consultants were working on concept options as a result of the great feedback, "which are expected back in September".
"Both King Park and Tomaree have unique attributes and opportunities which we hope to build on to provide the community and visitors with high quality sporting infrastructure," he said.
"Once the plan has been finalised and the cost planning completed, we will work with the West Ward Sports Council and other stakeholders to develop an order of priority for delivery. Council will then seek to advocate for funding."
Mr Lamont said that a toilet block removed the council due to flood damage would be replaced in the near future.
"Council made an insurance claim for the building and we will construct the new toilet above the flood planning level. The delay in construction has been caused by a geotechnical requirement to allow for settlement in the fill pad that the toilet block will then be built upon."
